An influential parliamentary committee has “serious concerns” about the incentive and opportunity for espionage that Chinese involvement in the UK’s civil nuclear sector provides.

In a report on the nature of the national security threat to the UK from China, the intelligence and security committee warn of security risks and commercial challenges associated with China’s investments.

The authors of the report said: “The government would be naïve to assume that allowing Chinese companies to exert influence over the UK’s civil nuclear and energy sectors is not ceding control to the Chinese Communist party.”

The report questions the government’s approach to Chinese involvement and calls for a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact.